Rhythm Alley Redux - Post(er)script
While in Chapel Hill recently for the Be Loud! Sophie concert, world-renowned urban archaeologist, author and all-around swell guy Peter "PC" Cashwell took some time to do some digging in the old Chapel Hill town landfill in Carolina North Forest and unearthed what appear to be early attempts at pre-Internet advertising utilizing actual paper and a technique then known as "photocopying". Obviously the paper itself is way too fragile to be handled but PC has graciously digitized these "posters" and made them available for your edutainment. I have attempted to present them in a chronological order.
An early attempt at what became known as "poster art"
Odd hieroglyphics that are completely untranslatable to modern man
Here we see a somewhat more mature approach, at least featuring likenesses of members of the performing troupe
The last two known works of the Hammondiluvian period
Note the complete absence of any mention of Screamin' Jay Hawkins - you will be tested on the significance of that omission
An attempt to add some gravitas to the proceedings with the likeness of a well-loved childhood authority figure
I got nothing
As we move closer to modern times, sexuality becomes more a part of advertising, despite the evident disapproval of the mustachioed gentleman in the corner
This text-heavy example is a case-study in TMI - this style was used a few years later in the early World Wide Web era, spawning a number of "World's Worst Website" collections
This one is perfect
Two takes on a much-appreciated attempt to save a valuable historical landmark from the bulldozer. Lord knows it helped.
If anyone else has any such finds, please feel free to send them to me for publication.
Labels: Humor, Music, Rhythm Alley
Rhythm Alley Redux - 11 - Open Mic Night
Up until now I've been doing most of the talking - now it's your turn. I need to take a break for my writing to catch up with my posting (I may be going to every other day) so here's a request to you guys - use the comments to tell your own stories. What bands did you love? What bands did you hate? What was your favorite place to eat before a show? Where was the best after-party? And why didn't you tell us then? The stage is yours...
Labels: Humor, Life, Rhythm Alley
Too Funny Not To Share. No, Really.
I've been trying to decide how to tell this story, or even if I was willing to until after things are resolved. But this afternoon I realized that it really deserves to be told, for the complete and utter lunacy if nothing else.
So while we were in the mountains the week of Memorial Day, I got a call from my boss. I'd been laid off from the company I've worked for the last seven years. Nice. On the way home from the mountains I managed to burn out the brakes on the XTerra, which is going to require substantial and expensive repairs. Having made it home, brakes grinding away, we walked in to find the temperature upstairs was 83 degrees as the upstairs A/C was broken. While waiting for the A/C repairman to arrive, I decided to cut the grass which was way overdue, only to find that the lawnmower wouldn't start. At least I thought I could relax and stream some "Archer" (we had immediately dropped our cable service to cut costs), but the O/S drive on the home theater PC suffered a fatal heart attack and died a grisly death.
But you know what? We're fine. I've got a bunch of incredibly wonderful friends and colleagues joining me in beating the bushes for job opportunities. While the XTerra is idled, we've got the Fit and my motorcycle and my bicycle and my other bicycle and my feet and the awesome Chapel Hill Transit System, which for the time being is still free. And the kayak if it rains like it did last summer. The A/C problem turned out to be a couple of hundred bucks to repair instead of a couple of thousand. The lawnmower was at least 7-8 years old - stuff happens. And I built the damn PC so I can damn well replace the drive and rebuild it and I've always made sure we didn't store anything critical on it, so nothing was lost. Eh. Jeannette has been fabulous as always (we just had the 30th anniversary of our first date!). We're going to be okay.
I'm sure I should feel sad and worried and despondent and all that and if nothing shakes out in the next couple of months, that'll probably be my reality. But for now I'm out pounding the pavement for the first time since 1987 and while I might be pissed about the circumstances behind it (okay, I'm definitely pissed about the circumstances behind it!), I'm looking forward to my next gig, whatever it ends up being.
I don't plan on posting a lot of stuff about my job search on social media - this is going to take some time so just accept that as I have. I'll damn sure let everyone know once I've found something new. In the meantime, if you know of anyone that needs some IT managed, send 'em my way.
Labels: Humor, Life, Work
Don't Vote
A number of my family and friends have been posting updates on Facebook exhorting people to go vote, regardless of their political affiliation or views. In general I'm in agreement with them - if you don't play, you frankly lose your right to complain - but I do make the following exceptions:
If you believe that President Obama is being secretly controlled by the Muslim Brotherhood and aims to implement Sharia law across these United States, then you're paranoid and likely clinically insane. Please don't vote. Stay home in your basement shelter with your year's supply of canned food and ammo and listen to Mark Levin until the guys in the white lab coats come for you.
If you're still convinced that President Obama was not born in the US despite all the evidence that he was, please don't go out and vote. With your diminished mental and reasoning capacity, you probably have no business operating a motor vehicle or interacting with the public anyway.
Otherwise, whether your politics agree with mine or not, go do your duty.
Labels: Humor, Politics
